Two face weapons charges

URBANA — Two Urbana men arrested early Thursday after a disturbance in east Urbana that involved a handgun have been criminally charged.

Mannix Martin, 21, of the 1300 block of Silver Street, and Herbert C. Shah, 19, of the 700 block of East Illinois Street, were each charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for allegedly having a loaded gun early Thursday. Martin was also charged with criminal damage to property.

Urbana police Sgt. Dan Morgan said police were called at 2:40 a.m. Thursday to the 2000 block of South Vawter Street by a woman who reported that she saw a man, later identified as Martin, break a window to her apartment then hand a handgun to another man, later identified as Shah.

When police made contact with the men, Shah started to walk away, then started to run. Police caught him after a brief foot chase, then retraced the route they saw Shah take.

Morgan said under a car in the same block as the apartment was a loaded revolver.

Shah was arrested for having the gun and Martin for damaging the window, but both men were charged with the weapons offense.

Judge Chase Leonhard set Shah's bond at $50,000 and told him to be back in court Sept. 25.

Martin remains free on bond and is due back in court with an attorney Aug. 16.

In the spirit of fairness, I'm sure you will applaud Ms. Reitz and give her credit for the 2 1/2 year prison sentence that Mr. Shah recieved earlier this year for fleeing police. Although I am curious why he is not already serving that sentence by now, as it was imposed several months ago. At least now, he'll be there longer than 2 1/2 years once he finally gets there.